Viper importing
Discussion
After owning a couple of vipers I have seen one in the USA. I know many on this site have been through the buying and shipping process before .Anyone know a good shipping company to use ? How do you get the ball rolling etc .What's the estimated cost on a car worth around 30 , 000 dollars. This one is for sale privately which i imagine is more risky than a dealer .Any advice or help much appreciated.
I've not imported a car for over 13 years but here's a (rough - hence the ?'s) break down
Cost of car $30,000 = £23,684 (todays rate of 1.27)
Shipping £1500?
UK import duty (10% of car plus shipping cost) £2520
20%VAT (car plus shipping plus import duty) £5540
US transport to docks £400?
Conversion for MOT or IVA £500?
Registration £200?
Grand total £34344
There will no doubt be a few hidden extras so you won't get much/any change out of £35k
There are quite a few companies out there who can offer the full service and advice, STS imports, Golden Chariots, Kingstown Shipping, Hills etc
Cost of car $30,000 = £23,684 (todays rate of 1.27)
Shipping £1500?
UK import duty (10% of car plus shipping cost) £2520
20%VAT (car plus shipping plus import duty) £5540
US transport to docks £400?
Conversion for MOT or IVA £500?
Registration £200?
Grand total £34344
There will no doubt be a few hidden extras so you won't get much/any change out of £35k
There are quite a few companies out there who can offer the full service and advice, STS imports, Golden Chariots, Kingstown Shipping, Hills etc
Edited by sonicbloo on Thursday 20th December 23:42
Everything is calculated on the "Bill of Sale" 
You must also make sure you get the title document as you won't be able to register the car with the DVLA without it.
Shipping prices vary depending on where the car is located and how fast you want it.
Ship my car is another company that advertise in various car mags. I used Kingstown shipping
they will talk you through the options.
You must also make sure you get the title document as you won't be able to register the car with the DVLA without it.
Shipping prices vary depending on where the car is located and how fast you want it.
Ship my car is another company that advertise in various car mags. I used Kingstown shipping
they will talk you through the options.
Just brought my 3rd Viper over.
Get a sales slip for as lower price as possible, sold with bad motor, sold with junk title, sold with poor paintwork etc.
Shipping from inland to port of sailing 350 USD. Sea transport 800USD, UK paperwork £200.
Collection from Southampton docks, £140 quid in petrol and snacks for 2nd driver.
Get a sales slip for as lower price as possible, sold with bad motor, sold with junk title, sold with poor paintwork etc.
Shipping from inland to port of sailing 350 USD. Sea transport 800USD, UK paperwork £200.
Collection from Southampton docks, £140 quid in petrol and snacks for 2nd driver.
Hensen said:
Just brought my 3rd Viper over.
Get a sales slip for as lower price as possible, sold with bad motor, sold with junk title, sold with poor paintwork etc.
Shipping from inland to port of sailing 350 USD. Sea transport 800USD, UK paperwork £200.
Collection from Southampton docks, £140 quid in petrol and snacks for 2nd driver.
Pictures would be nice to see, what year/model etcGet a sales slip for as lower price as possible, sold with bad motor, sold with junk title, sold with poor paintwork etc.
Shipping from inland to port of sailing 350 USD. Sea transport 800USD, UK paperwork £200.
Collection from Southampton docks, £140 quid in petrol and snacks for 2nd driver.
You normally have to rotate the reflector in the headlamps.
Mot station may also require you to have a rear Fog Lamp.
I did not want a seperate fog lamp on my car so got a red bulb for the RHS reverse lamp and ran a wire from the lamp to a seperate switch which I can mount in the car. (I did not drill the dash).
If the MOT Station requires you to have side indicators (Not sure if you require an IVA Test or MOT?)
We fitted side indicators for the IVA test, using some made up flat plate brackets mounted in front of the doors and attached brackets to an existing screw hole, recessed slightly where the hood scollop is, we did not drill holes in the side of the hood.
Mot station may also require you to have a rear Fog Lamp.
I did not want a seperate fog lamp on my car so got a red bulb for the RHS reverse lamp and ran a wire from the lamp to a seperate switch which I can mount in the car. (I did not drill the dash).
If the MOT Station requires you to have side indicators (Not sure if you require an IVA Test or MOT?)
We fitted side indicators for the IVA test, using some made up flat plate brackets mounted in front of the doors and attached brackets to an existing screw hole, recessed slightly where the hood scollop is, we did not drill holes in the side of the hood.
avoid drilling for your side repeaters, mine are stuck on flush mounted LED's , I can't find where I bought them from, but these would do the trick https://www.carbuilder.com/uk/side-repeater-vents-...
I think it's very much down to which shipping company you use, (who their overseas agents are) and which port you decide to ship to.
I got my car shipped from Oakland San Francisco, to Southampton, Shared container with another car.
The container was unloaded and taken to Eastleigh, cars unloaded and then I got the call to collect.
When I arrived at the bonded warehouse the car was sitting there with a flat front tyre! It seemed a nail had gone into the tyre,(either when they chocked the cars in the container to stop them shifting about or in the unloading process).
It was a Pain in the arse because the car had non standard size wheel nuts on it and I had to phone around local tyre dealers to see if they had a 22mm socket.
I never did get any sort of compensation from the company, but everything else was good.
One thing though, make sure the fuel tank is next to empty, they do not ship cars with full tanks.
One owner I know had a fairly full tank of fuel in his Viper and the freight company started his car (In the USA) and left it running to burn off the fuel, because the car was not moving the heat from the exhaust burnt off sections of paint on the side sills. This had to dealt with putting in a claim to the shipping company. Hassle you don't need!
I got my car shipped from Oakland San Francisco, to Southampton, Shared container with another car.
The container was unloaded and taken to Eastleigh, cars unloaded and then I got the call to collect.
When I arrived at the bonded warehouse the car was sitting there with a flat front tyre! It seemed a nail had gone into the tyre,(either when they chocked the cars in the container to stop them shifting about or in the unloading process).
It was a Pain in the arse because the car had non standard size wheel nuts on it and I had to phone around local tyre dealers to see if they had a 22mm socket.
I never did get any sort of compensation from the company, but everything else was good.
One thing though, make sure the fuel tank is next to empty, they do not ship cars with full tanks.
One owner I know had a fairly full tank of fuel in his Viper and the freight company started his car (In the USA) and left it running to burn off the fuel, because the car was not moving the heat from the exhaust burnt off sections of paint on the side sills. This had to dealt with putting in a claim to the shipping company. Hassle you don't need!
Baldchap said:
People who have shipped cars - what condition did they arrive in and was there evidence of abuse at the UK port of arrival? I've heard some horror stories about Liverpool docks and imported cars being bounced off the limiter from cold start...
Use a reputable shipping company with plenty of experience, you should be okA friend of mine just imported a Mustang which arrived in perfect condition using this company in Hull https://www.xvcmotors.co.uk/
Problem now is he's been waiting over a month for a V5 from the DVLA due to lockdown, even though the IVA and MOT were done 5 weeks ago
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